Can I SURVIVE A 450 Mile Road Trip In A Caterham Seven 170S?

Can a Caterham Seven 170S, having the smaller series 3 chassis, be taken on long trips? Let's find out in this – not quite a practical – review. I hope I don't regret this!! Luckily, I had Caterham's CEO on hand!

In a previous episode, we meet my friend, Bob Laishley –the then Chief Strategy Officer for Caterham and now CEO – to collect his former company car of a previous employer. We drive there in this Lotus Seven derived Caterham Seven 170S, and you join us for the return journey of this mini adventure. Can I survive this 450 mile road trip?

Caterham 420R Review:

Dad v Son Caterham Drift Battle:

Have you seen the All New Caterham Project V EV Concept? It's stunning:

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Best of the British Motorshow And Our Caterham Drift Experience!

More about Bob Laishley – collecting his former company car:

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Bob Laishley & @Caterham_Cars for the experience.

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** CHAPTERS **
00:00 Welcome!
00:48 Caterham Seven 170S First Impressions
01:42 Starting The Journey
02:16 Getting Onto The Motorway
02:50 Drivability, Comfort and Overall Experience
05:37 Looks Like Rain!
08:10 Back On The Road! Does It Keep You Safe & Warm?
10:12 Where Is The Indicator?!
10:40 Turning A Boring Trip Into An Adventure!
12:00 How To Get Into A Caterham With The Roof On
12:57 Final Thoughts On The Caterham 7 170S Road Trip
15:00 Bonus Clip From The Blooper Reel

♫ Music ♫
● Epidemic Sound

Sound effects:
Button Click Sound
BY ALEXANDER · JANUARY 20, 2017

#caterham #sportscars #drivingadventure

Former title: CAN I SURVIVE A 450 MILE Road Trip In A Caterham Seven 170S?

[jbadkc]

You are absolutely right. Each trip is an adventure. I used to have a Caterham with a 1600 cc Kent engine and 110 HP.
But the weight was 650 KG plus my 90 kgs. Unfortunately, not enough money to keep it and feeding 5 children. 😅
Still miss the car.
I envy all these who have one. Enjoy it!!

[simonchaddock]

In my youth I drove a Lotus Super 7 series 2. Very similar to the 170s although slightly heavier with a 1500 Kent engine.
The big advantage it had was a tonneau cover as well as a full hood. The tonneau had a centre line zip so driving alone it in effect became a single seater. All the heat thus came out past you in the driving seat and provided you kept above 25 mph you remained warm & dry no matter how much it rained. I drove regularly down the M6 although the joints in the elevated section around Birmingham were not much fun.

[johngeekieart]

Great great video, as a ‘mature’ man and always having dreamed of owning a caterham this has been really enlightening, many thanks..

[simoncoppingongoogle]

I'm pleased to see a review with a roof. I've had 3 now and they are additive. The first back in '99 was my only car and i drove 16k miles a year for four years. The hood is a life saver when it's sleeting & snowing. It has stiched in guttering to stop the water going down your back when you get in and out. The rear window zips open to get your shopping in the boot and the screen is heated to stop it misting up. There's a tensioner built into the hood sticks to tention it so it doesn't even flap at a steady 85mph. The lower section of the doors lift up and stay up by the air flow above 30mph to create a good breeze if it suddenly turns sunny. The heater will blow cold as well as hot air. Getting in and out isn't so easy but you soon learn to do a kind of tumble forward manoeuvre like Tony Alcock at the Crown Green Bowls. I think its easier than an Elise due to the narrow sill. Plenty of companies like OMP and Sparco make narrow leather shoes suitable for the office. The only consession I ever made was rolling my left trouser leg like a Free Mason due to an occasional drip from the scuttle during a long journey in the rain. I probably could have sealed it but it was never really a problem. Many reviews sign off that you have to be some kind of petrolhead masochist to buy one, but that's because they only keep them for a short time and don't learn about using the weather gear properly. Don't be put off thinking you can't run a Seven every day, just look for someone on a motorbike and think you've got it easy!

[tomokokishi]

Fun fact: The Suzuki :660cc engine derived from the K segment microcar in Japan. Thus the Japanese fans call this the K-terham 😂

[bencausey]

Very much appreciate this down-to-earth, REAL review. Kudos.

[calvinvintage]

Great virgin intro! I've driven my 1995 Caterham 170bhp 1800cc Zetec from Cambridge to Timmelsjoch High Alpine Pass in Italy and back, with a bicycle where a spare wheel should be. Over 2, 000miles.

Planning a 6, 000miles bigger tour to Vienna, down over Pyrenees to Madrid and back.

Austrian roads are best, Italian and UK ones the worst, as the Caterham suspension prefers track smooth, not Broken Britain 3rd grade crumbling tarmac!

[spacedrifter]

A nicely put-together review👍. I own a Caterham and recognise many of the experiences you describe.

[RonK]

stop beneath the bridge to put the roof on. You're save in rain as long as you can go fast enough to blow the rain over your head. The moment you slow down, stop under the first bridge you can find

[cadmancw]

Such a simple but enjoyable and informative video.

[alexbain]

If it rain, you just drive faster ! I built a Seven/4 in 1979 and did 40, 000 miles in the first year, company car ! Just drive it !

[CarswithBrad]

I can't be sure, but I think you really like this car! 😂 Great video dude, one of my faves so far! Caterhams are awesome little cars! 🔥

[DavidJackson-zceq]

This summer I did 4000 miles around France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg in my k series Caterham over the course of two weeks, was amazing fun 😂

[xiaobaozha]

Have used the full hood once…half hood ftw 🍻

[oliox]

If it's not raining the roof is off....100% ❤

[garymurraya]

what a nice guy Bob nice to see as not many in his position would help you out.
there are companies, or one at least, where you can "share" the purchase / use of a caterham, which could be a better option

[rodshop]

This car makes me glad for the comfort of our 71 MG Midget. But of course, I still want one!

[Ianzandvoort]

I have driven in this car on the Caterham Open Day in April, I had to drive with bare feet because of my shoe size 11, it was fun!

[texr]

Right attitude, roof off unless needed!

Mine is a little more raw spec but I have toured in mine and people think wouldn't be a nice as it is to do a few hundred miles in a day.

Even after 10years of ownership i still forgot to turn the indicator off from time to time

[RobertBlake-bsfv]

If only they were cheaper in Australia. I purchased an elfin last year in the middle of winter during one of the coolest snaps we had seen in years and had the great idea to fly to where it was and drive it home.
3800ks (2360 miles) and some change in 3 days with no heater, no roof, no doors and seats that can be best described as flat sponges on the floor in temps below zero for a lot of the drive, I arrived home sore and tired but would not hesitate to do it again.